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The seven World Cup matches between India and Sri Lanka have been mostly dramatic, with Sri Lanka having the numerical edge

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Apr-20111979, league match, Manchester
The Dravid-Ganguly assault shocked Sri Lanka in Taunton•Getty ImagesSri Lanka’s victory by 47 runs in this encounter was a milestone in their cricketing history – their first win in a World Cup game. Sri Lanka ran up a competitive total after a delayed start, with the trio of Sidath Wettimuny, Roy Dias and Duleep Mendis making half-centuries. There was also a cameo from the youngest player in the tournament, Sudath Pasqual, which pushed them to 238. In reply, India’s top order got starts but the de Silvas – Somachandra and Stanley – nipped out the heart of the batting. From 119 for 2, India crashed to 191 all out to round off a miserable campaign, which ended with no wins. Sri Lanka had qualified for the 1979 event after winning the Associates tournament, and this win over an established nation helped strengthen their case for Test status.1992, league match, Mackay
This India-Sri Lanka clash was deemed to be so low-profile by the organisers that it was the only match to be scheduled at Harrup Park in Queensland which had not hosted any internationals previously. Incessant rain meant that only two deliveries were possible before the game was called off, and Harrup Park hasn’t hosted any international matches since, making this game something of a familiar name in cricketing quizzes.1996, league match, New Delhi
Sachin Tendulkar made a run-a-ball 137, which included a volley of sixes towards the end that lifted India to a seemingly sufficient 271. Few Indian fans remember the innings though, and the match sticks in memory far more for Manoj Prabhakar’s hapless bowling in what turned out to be his final international match. Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana added to the growing buzz around their opening partnership by bludgeoning 50 by the fifth over, with Prabhakar’s medium-pace going for 33 in two overs. Prabhakar, till then a key member of the line-up who opened both the bowling and the batting, was reduced to trying equally ineffective offspin. Sri Lanka cruised to a six-wicket win, with Arjuna Ranatunga and Hashan Tillakaratne playing cool knocks to guide them home.1996, 1st semi-final, Kolkata
An erupting Eden Gardens and a tearful Vinod Kambli might be the lasting images of this ill-fated game, but before matters deteriorated to that extent, Sri Lanka had thoroughly outplayed India on a pitch that had become almost unplayable. Stung by a six-wicket defeat to the same opponents earlier in the tournament, India fielded first, but Aravinda de Silva did not let the score of 1 for 2 bother him. The impact of his silken 66 was such that it lifted Sri Lanka to 251. Sachin Tendulkar responded with 65 but his dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse. India plummeted from 98 for 1 to 120 for 8 as the Sri Lankan spinners bowled more than one established batsman behind the legs. Eden Gardens could watch it no longer and flared up in a volley of missiles and bonfires, forcing match referee Clive Lloyd to award the match to Sri Lanka.1999, league match, Taunton
Taunton could not quite have been payback for Kolkata, but India nevertheless sent the defending champions out of the tournament with a batting assault that saw them rattle up 373, which was then the highest total against a Test nation. In a year in which he made six of his 12 one-day hundreds, and was involved in both the 300-plus ODI partnerships, Rahul Dravid began uncharacteristically with a flurry of boundaries along with Sourav Ganguly.Sri Lanka had taken a wicket off the fifth ball of the game; they had to wait another 269 before the second one came, when Dravid was finally run out for 145. Ganguly accelerated with seven sixes to 183, and Sri Lanka were so stunned that they lurched to 216, giving Robin Singh only his second five-wicket haul in 136 games.When it all came crashing down for India in Port of Spain in 2007•Getty Images2003, Super Six match, Johannesburg
It was the match that confirmed India’s place in the semi-final, and, in many ways, it was the one that turned hopes of a successful campaign into genuine belief that this was a side that could go all the way. India’s bowling had been sensational against England; and against Pakistan, the batting had chased a challenging score. In Johannesburg, they put in the complete performance. Sachin Tendulkar, who had been in commanding form all tournament, scored 97, and contributions from Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly ensured India got 292; all this after Sanath Jayasuriya had oddly chosen to bowl despite Sri Lanka having struggled while chasing, even having lost to Kenya in pursuit of 210. They were done in by a magical spell of 4 for 35 from an older, slower, but considerably craftier Javagal Srinath. There were more strange decisions from Sri Lanka as Jehan Mubarak turned up as a pinch-hitter at No. 3, and they were bowled out for a paltry 109 in 23 overs.2007, league match, Port of SpainIndia were dumped out of the World Cup after their 69-run loss in the game, and it was to have severe consequences as interest in the tournament dwindled and the organisers of the current edition plotted to avert a repeat. But this was also a match in which a fresh-looking Sri Lanka gave a glimpse of how impressive they would be through the tournament. It was the young guns who fired, with Upul Tharanga and Chamara Silva getting fifties to take Sri Lanka to 254. India’s batting then crumbled to 185 all out under the pressure of an impending exit, a stifling early spell from Chaminda Vaas, and an at-times unplayable Muttiah Muralitharan. The doosras, topspinners, and everything else were on display in Muralitharan’s spell of 3 for 41, during which he trapped MS Dhoni so plumb the batsman started walking even before the umpire raised the finger.

Cricinfo looks at eleven baffling omissions from the World Cup squads

Andrew Miller22-Feb-2007

Australia’s Find of the Year wasn’t good enough for the World Cup © AFP
Stuart Clark – AustraliaHere’s a conundrum. Australia’s one-day bowling is all over the place,so what do they do? They choose to ignore their Find of the Year,Stuart Clark, whose nine Tests in 2006-07 produced 47 wickets at aneconomy-rate of less than two-and-a-half an over. It was a bafflingbit of selectorial whimsy that justifiably had Clark, “the new GlennMcGrath TM”, seeking some sort of clarification from the chairman ofselectors, Andrew Hilditch. “If there was a World Cup semi-final atstake, I’d much rather have him bowling than a couple of other guys,”said Geoff Lawson among others. However, Hilditch and Co. perhaps hadhalf an eye on the events in Kuala Lumpur last September, when Clarkwas spanked for 87 in seven overs by Chris Gayle and Brian Lara.Cameron White – AustraliaEver-present in the opening rounds of the CB Series, and a qualifiedsuccess in the Chappell-Hadlee disaster that followed, White’s luckran out when Australia’s two Queensland allrounders, Andrew Symondsand Shane Watson, swapped roles ahead of the CB Series finals. Watson- perpetually promising but perpetually injured – returned to fitnessjust as Symonds was being carted off in the other direction with abicep injury. It was a destabilising trade-off for Australia. For allthat White can do a passable impression of Symonds with the bat, theselectors were less certain about the reliability of his part-timelegbreaks. So Brad Hogg got Symonds’ spinner’s gig instead, and theBear had to grin and bear it.Khaled Mashud – BangladeshBangladesh, quite literally, have decided to drop the Pilot by oustingtheir former captain, wicketkeeper and longest-serving internationalcricketer, Khaled Mashud. Apparently this decision had been a longtime coming in the corridors of power at the BCB – since the tour ofEngland in 2005, Mashud has produced just one one-day innings of note,an unbeaten 48 against Zimbabwe in July 2006. Meanwhile his teenagedunderstudy, the former Under-19 captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, made anunanswerable case for inclusion in the recent return series in Harare.Mashud has not had much fun at World Cups – he was sacked as captainafter Bangladesh’s dismal showing in 2003.Mal Loye – EnglandAnother case of youth getting the nod over experience. Mal Loye, 34,made a mixed impression in his belated ODI debut for England thiswinter, slog-sweeping every fast bowler in the Antipodes beforenibbling a wide one to the keeper, usually in the same over. Usefulthough his top-of-the-order impetus might have been, it was insteaddecided that a wild-card allrounder, Ravi Bopara, would provideEngland with more options. Even so, it seems highly probable that Loyewill appear in the Caribbean at some stage – if Michael Vaughan’s kneelasts an entire tournament then Kevin Pietersen is a Dutchman.Ramesh Powar – IndiaWith Anil Kumble on the wane in one-day cricket and Harbhajan Singhless attacking than he was in his pomp, an opening in India’s squadseemed to have been forged for Ramesh Powar, arguably the slowestflightiest offspinner in the game today, and a man who, since hisrecall 12 months ago, has been picking up his ODI wickets at a rate ofalmost two a game. His belligerent batting should have been a factorin his favour, but he has managed just one half-century in 11 visitsto the crease, and it is believed that the selectors found it hard tolook beyond his … err … ample frame.

Boeta Dippenaar – South Africa’s Fall Guy , though not for the first time © Getty Images
Nathan Astle – New ZealandA surprise absentee, but this time of his own volition. Nathan Astletook a leaf out of Damien Martyn’s book by jumping ship just momentsbefore his liner docked at the perfect retirement port. One of thecleanest strikers in the game, and an under-rated seamer with 99 ODIwickets to his name, Astle will forever be remembered for hisastonishing blitzkrieg against England at Christchurch in 2001-02 -222 runs from 168 balls to all but seize the first Test of thatseries. He wasn’t exactly sluggish in ODIs either, with anational-record 16 centuries to his name. But four ducks and a 1 inhis last seven innings convinced him that his heart was no longer init.Yasir Hameed – PakistanIt’s hard to know what Hameed must have done to offend the Pakistanselectors. In the past two years he has played in just four ODIs outof 45, and yet in those games he has run up scores of 41, 57, 71, and41. Admittedly they have come a touch slowly by one-day standards, butHameed is by nature an opener, and that department has been Pakistan’sAchilles Heel since the retirement of Saeed Anwar. Instead, MohammadHafeez, Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal have been trusted to come up witha combination that can improve on their tally of three half-centurystands in the past 12 months.Boeta Dippenaar – South AfricaOne of nature’s stodgier one-day cricketers, Dippenaar’s finestone-day innings was arguably his seven-ball 1 on March 12, 2006, inthat match at Johannesburg – by getting out of the way nice andearly, he allowed his flashier team-mates to cut loose and hunt downAustralia’s incredible total of 434. And yet, in 10 previous one-daymatches in the Caribbean, Dippenaar has been the plodder turnedgamebreaker. He has clobbered 428 runs at an astonishing average of107, and he has not once finished on the losing side. He might havebeen worth a place as a lucky mascot.Chamara Kapugedera – Sri LankaSeveral batting line-ups are vying for the Dad’s Army tag in thisWorld Cup, but few can make a more legitimate claim than Sri Lanka,for whom Marvan Atapattu (36), Sanath Jayasuriya (37) and RusselArnold (33) are all expected to turn out. Clearly, the next generationwill have to wait its turn, and with that in mind, Kapugedera will, inall probability, be ushered into the side. His 18matches to date have yielded just 203 runs and a solitary fifty, butgiven that he only turns 20 on Saturday, time is very much on hisside.Runako Morton – West IndiesNot so long ago, Morton was the man of the moment in West Indiancricket. His unbeaten 90 against Australia in last year’s ChampionsTrophy helped propel his side all the way to the final, an achievementthat looked set to culminate in a memorable homecoming for one of thegame’s most notorious bad boys. In the course of his career, Mortonbeen expelled from the squad in 2002 for lying about a grandmother’sdeath, and arrested in 2004 in connection with a stabbing incident.But his form fell away as the tournament drew nearer, and after 30runs in his last five innings he returned once again to the margins.Hamilton Masakadza – ZimbabweMasakadza hit the heights at Harare in July 2001, making 119 againstWest Indies when aged just 17 years and 254 days, to become theyoungest debut centurion in Test history. It was a record that hassince been passed by Bangladesh’s Mohammad Ashraful, but unlikeAshraful, Masakadza has not pushed on to greater things. He scored hismaiden half-century against England at Bulawayo in November 2004 andbowls useful legspin to boot, but a tally of 42 runs in three inningsagainst Bangladesh this month counted against him. He was shunted outof the squad in favour of Friday Kasteni.

Despite being strong on paper, RCB have not fired collectively as a unit

Srinidhi Ramanujam07-Mar-2023

Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat GiantsTwo games and two defeats. Bottom dwellers Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Giants are sailing on the same boat, with both teams desperate to get off the mark and keep their knockouts hope alive.Just two matches into the inaugural edition, Royal Challengers are already being compared by fans with their men’s side in the IPL: strong on paper but have not fired collectively as a unit. Smriti Mandhana will be keen to change that perception and collect those two crucial points. In their previous game against Mumbai Indians, the captain stressed the importance of one of the top four batting deep to guide them to a competitive total, which has not happened so far. Their bowlers are still toiling for wickets. After two losses, allrounder Dane van Niekerk could replace Sophie Devine in their quest for first victory.Meanwhile, Giants are still without their captain Beth Mooney, who suffered a knee injury in their opener against Mumbai Indians, and there is no official update if she would take the field on Wednesday. However, pacer Kim Garth, who has taken over Deandra Dottin’s place in the squad, has bolstered the bowling. With five of Giants’ six bowlers in the XI being capped internationals, they will rely heavily on their bowling to move out of the last spot on the table.Players to watch
For Royal Challengers, Shreyanka Patil showed glimpses of potential in her confident 15-ball 23 against Mumbai. Though the spin-bowling allrounder went for runs with the ball, she could play a key role against Giants. Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh hasn’t come to the party yet, and expect her to light up the stage after two dull innings.Kim Garth returned with a five-for against UP Warriorz, with three of those coming in the powerplay. The Australian could once again be a top performer for Giants. D Hemalatha has also played two crucial knocks in two matches, lower down the order, and will be determined to carry that form into this match as well.Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bangalore (possible): 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Sophie Devine/Dane van Niekerk, 3 Disha Kasat, 4 Ellyse Perry, 5 Heather Knight, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Kanika Ahuja, 8 Shreyanka Patil, 9 Megan Schutt, 10 Renuka Singh, 11 Preeti Bose/Sahana PawarGujarat Giants (possible): 1 Sophia Dunkley, 2 S Meghana, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Ashleigh Gardner, 5 Sushma Verma (wk), 6 Dayalan Hemalatha, 7 Annabel Sutherland/Georgia Wareham, 8 Sneh Rana (capt), 9 Tanuja Kanwar, 10 Kim Garth, 11 Mansi JoshiStats and trivia
RCB have taken just three wickets from their two matches so far.Only Harleen Deol has crossed the 30-run mark in an innings in Giants’ line-up.Quotes”As batters, we need to put up a good total on board. It’s a pretty short tournament, we can’t dwell on it. In franchise cricket, even after two losses, we can turn it around quickly.”
“I enjoy being the leader. The responsibility comes on your shoulders. You have the time to show your leadership. The girls fought very hard. Whenever the team needs me, I will do my best.”

UEFA’s executive committee is preparing to deliver a historic ruling, with the decision on Villarreal vs Barcelona in Miami set for September 11.

UEFA to decide in September if La Liga can be played in MiamiReal Madrid and European fan groups oppose the schemeMatch would be first-ever La Liga game held abroad if approvedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

UEFA will make its decision on La Liga's controversial plan to stage a competitive match in Miami next month. According to a report from Spanish outlet , the governing body's executive committee is scheduled to meet in Tirana, Albania, where it will rule on whether the proposed Villarreal vs Barcelona fixture can be held at the Hard Rock Stadium on December 20.

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UEFA has raised concerns that staging league matches abroad undermines the integrity of domestic competitions. The European football body has also faced backlash from Football Supporters Europe, which strongly opposes taking league games outside Europe. Within Spain, Real Madrid have lodged a formal complaint against the plan, directly referencing the Villarreal-Barcelona fixture in their statement.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Serie A is considering a similar move with Milan vs Como set to be played in Perth, Australia, in February. Unlike in Spain, that proposal has unanimous support from Italian clubs, partly because San Siro will be unavailable that weekend due to the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

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If approved, Villarreal-Barcelona in Miami would be the first-ever official La Liga fixture played outside Spain. The match could set a precedent, with UEFA preparing to establish regulations on how often and under what conditions domestic league games may be staged abroad.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA & LA LIGA?

The decision on September 11 is the critical next step. If UEFA's committee, led by president Aleksander Ceferin, gives the green light, the proposal will then be passed to FIFA for final approval. A rejection from UEFA would effectively kill the plan. The ruling is expected to be a landmark one, as UEFA's legal team is reportedly working to establish a clear regulatory framework for when and how many domestic fixtures can be played outside of a league's home territory in the future.

Sangakkara also said RR have to be a “lot more clinical” in run-chases

Deivarayan Muthu25-May-20241:48

‘Tactical blunder’ – Moody on Hetmyer’s batting position

The lack of a proactive batting approach against Sunrisers Hyderabad’s left-arm fingerspinners on a dry Chepauk pitch, which offered more purchase to the slower bowlers in the second innings, cost Rajasthan Royals a spot in the IPL 2024 final. This is the assessment of their captain Sanju Samson after they managed only 139 for 7 in their pursuit of 176 in the second qualifier in Chennai on Friday.”I think we were found short of options in the middle overs against spin, and I think that’s where we lost the game,” Samson said after the game. “Against left-arm spin, we had three-four right-handers in the middle and the ball was stopping. But we could’ve tried a bit more [options] – reverse-sweep or use of the crease a bit more – and they [SRH] also bowled really well, actually.”It’s actually very hard to guess – when we can expect dew or not [in Chennai]. So, the wicket started behaving differently in the second innings. The ball started turning a bit and they used the advantage and bowled spin in the middle overs against our right-handers and that’s where they were one-up against us.”Related

Shaky middle order beginning to hurt Rajasthan Royals at crucial stage

Shahbaz and Abhishek spin Sunrisers Hyderabad into IPL final

Abhishek Sharma can be 'a real asset' for India, says Tom Moody

The Chepauk track had offered an average turn of 1.8 degrees in the first innings, but that number jumped up to 3.3 degrees in the second, according to the host broadcaster. SRH had left out their main spinners, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Mayank Markande, for this knockout game. But Shahbaz Ahmed, who was subbed in as an Impact Player more for his batting than bowling, combined with Abhishek Sharma for figures of 8-0-47-5. Aiden Markram also found sharp turn in the only over that he bowled.Once Yashasvi Jaiswal fell, Royals’ batting collapsed•Getty ImagesYashasvi Jaiswal reverse-swept the first ball he faced from Shahbaz to the shorter off-side boundary, but later in the same over, he holed out for 42 off 21 balls. SRH then matched up their left-arm spinners with RR’s right-hander heavy middle-order to damage the chase. Kumar Sangakkara, RR’s director of cricket, echoed Samson’s comments, suggesting their batters should’ve shown more intent and game-awareness to throw Shahbaz and Abhishek off their lengths and lines.”I think we’ve got to be a lot more clinical in our chases and these games are not won quite easily,” Sangakkara said at his post-match press conference. “Jaiswal getting out at that stage brought the left-arm spinners into the game and after that it was a little difficult, but it was a case of just hanging in there and getting the pace of the wicket again and getting the hang of the bowler. As Dhruv Jurel showed, if you show intent and if you play smart shots, you can chase a score, but, unfortunately, we weren’t good enough on the day. I thought the Sunrisers held in, they batted deep, and their bowlers did a great job for them.”Samson: ‘RR have found some great talent for India’Sangakkara, however, was pleased with how the season panned out for them overall. RR were the early pace-setters winning eight of their first nine games before they lost four in a row and somehow scrapped to the second qualifier, despite Jos Buttler leaving the IPL for England duty towards the business end of the tournament. RR also had to contend with an injury to their finisher Shimron Hetmyer midway through the season.”I think it was a great season for us,” Sangakkara said. “We started really well and then we lost a close game to SRH in Hyderabad. And then in Delhi also we put ourselves in winning positions and sometimes you have streaks. RCB lost almost every game at the start and then caught up. That’s how T20 goes.”All we can do is to put ourselves in positions for playoffs and vying for finals, which we did. I think all the guys through the season played really phenomenal cricket and there was a little bit of fatigue, of course, at the back end. But it doesn’t really matter when you’re in games like this – you’ve got to turn up and perform.”1:02

Why didn’t Royals’ spinners have an impact at Chepauk?

Samson was also impressed with how a number of players stepped up for RR through the season. He singled out Riyan Parag and Jurel for special praise, saying they could be match-winners for India too. Parag ended the season with 573 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of just under 150 – only Ruturaj Gaikwad and Virat Kohli have scored more runs than him this season – while Jurel played some sparkling cameos.”To be very honest, we’ve had some brilliant games not only this season, but the last three years have been a great project for our franchise,” Samson said. “We’ve found some really great talent for the country, I think. Riyan Parag coming out of this season and Dhruv Jurel and a lot of them are looking really exciting, not only for RR but for the Indian cricket team.”Sangakkara: ‘We are just lucky to have Sandeep’On the bowling front, Sandeep Sharma, who was once a powerplay specialist in the IPL, has excelled for RR along with Avesh Khan, who had been traded in from Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2024. Sandeep was also on point with his variations in the second qualifier against SRH, coming away with the big wickets of Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen while giving up just 25 runs in his four overs. Sangakkara heaped praise on Sandeep for refashioning himself into a death bowler.”I think it’s just a case of changing his role. We always knew that a lot of sides used him upfront but with his pace and skill, we identified that he will be very, very effective for us in the middle and at the back end,” Sangakkara said. That’s what we tasked him with.”We didn’t have the services of Prasidh Krishna again. Navdeep Saini was injured, and he was coming back from a big shoulder injury and came [in] halfway through the season. For two seasons now, Sandeep has been absolutely outstanding for us. He’s just a mature cricketer and he knows exactly what he can do and can’t do, and he sticks to the basics. He tries to swing the new ball and once he’s out of it, he changes his pace and he’s got incredible skill and we’re just lucky to have him.”

Manchester United were offered a chance to hijack Arsenal's transfer move for Viktor Gyokeres for a second week in a row by Sporting CP, but the Swedish striker has made it clear that his preferred destination remains Arsenal. Last week, reports emerged that the Red Devils could swoop in and secure a transfer for Gyokeres after talks between Sporting and the Gunners stalled.

United Gyokeres transfer againGyokeres keen on joining ArsenalRed Devils enquired about EkitikeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

United, who are still looking to add a No.9 to their squad before the summer transfer window closes on September 1, was given another chance to sign Gyokeres by Sporting CP, according to . The Swedish striker, however, has no intention of heading to Manchester as he remains keen on a move to Arsenal.

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The Red Devils had an opportunity to match Sporting CP's valuation for Gyokeres for the second week in a row as talks with the Gunners have stalled due to disagreement over the terms of payment for the striker's €70 million (£60.6m/$81.4m) fee. While the Portuguese side want the entire sum of money upfront, Arsenal are offering to pay €63.5 million at first and the remaining amount in add-ons.

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According to , the Red Devils made a move for Hugo Ekitike earlier in the window, but the Eintracht Frankfurt forward had his eyes on a Liverpool transfer. A possible swoop for Gyokeres was then discussed, but United have decided that they won't advance on any player unless they are eager to join the club.

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United will jet off to the U.S. to continue with their pre-season preparations and are scheduled to play their first friendly against West Ham at MetLife Stadium on July 26.

The top seven sides at the ODI World Cup along with hosts Pakistan will compete in the eight-team event

Nagraj Gollapudi and Matt Roller29-Oct-2023The top seven sides at the end of the league stage of the ongoing ODI World Cup in India will qualify for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, along with hosts Pakistan, to compete in the eight-team event.An ICC spokesperson confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the qualification system for the 2025 Champions Trophy was approved by the ICC Board in 2021, when the competition was brought back as one of the eight men’s global tournaments to be held in the 2024-31 cycle.The development has come as a surprise to a few boards – both whose teams are in India as well as others who missed making it to the ODI World Cup – who told ESPNcricinfo that they were unaware about qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy being at stake in this tournament.At present, Bangladesh and England are at No. 9 and 10 on the ODI World Cup points table, and therefore outside the top seven who will qualify for the Champions Trophy along with hosts Pakistan. “Yeah, I’m aware of that,” England captain Jos Buttler said when asked if he knew a place in the Champions Trophy was at stake following their loss to India in Lucknow. “And absolutely, it just proves we’ve still got lots to play for.”This also means other Full-Member nations like West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland will not even have the opportunity to qualify for the tournament, by virtue of not having made it to the 2023 ODI World Cup.In November 2021, the ICC had unveiled several global events for both men and women in the new cycle (2024-31) including two editions of the Champions Trophy – in 2025 and 2029. In a media statement, the ICC had said that the Champions Trophy would be an eight-team event and the tournament structure “will follow previous editions with two groups of four, semi-finals and final”.For the 2013 and 2017 editions of the Champions Trophy, the top eight teams in the ODI rankings at a cut-off date qualified for the event. It is understood that the decision to have the top seven teams at this World Cup qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy was approved originally by the ICC’s chief executives committee following which the ICC board ratified the recommendation.One Full Member board confirmed that the qualification pathways for all the events were discussed and approved at the 2021 ICC meetings. For the 2027 men’s ODI World Cup, which will be a 14-team tournament co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, the qualification process is: the two Full Member hosts – South Africa and Zimbabwe – plus eight highest-ranked teams as of March 31, 2027, and four remaining teams through global qualifier tournaments.The qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy was highlighted this week by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan more than once. With his team almost out of the semi-final race in the ODI World Cup, Shakib spoke of the importance of finishing in the top eight. “I mean, not the semi-final hope. It is not a semi-final possibility,” Shakib said on Saturday, after Bangladesh were beaten by Netherlands. “At least, do a little better. Suppose, you have to be in the [top] ranking 8 if you want to play in the Champions Trophy. So, there are still three matches left considering that in mind.”

Clubs only get one retention pick with the star allrounders both likely to be among the first players selected in Sunday’s draft

Alex Malcolm30-Aug-20232:16

Jonassen: Brisbane Heat will want to retain Amelia Kerr in WBBL draft

Despite only having pick No. 3, Perth Scorchers loom as the club that will shape Sunday’s inaugural WBBL overseas draft with a massive decision to be made over whether to take Sophie Devine or Marizanne Kapp with their only retention pick.The WBBL and BBL platinum players were revealed at an event in Melbourne on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s drafts with Devine and Kapp among the 25 platinum WBBL names that will available to be selected in the first and second rounds of the draft at the AU$110,000 price band.It is the first year of the WBBL overseas draft after it was implemented for the men’s BBL last year. The draft rules are exactly the same as the men, with each club getting one retention pick which they can use on a player who has qualified for them under league rules by being contracted to that club last season, or having played for them previously for two seasons without playing at another club.Related

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When, where, how? All you need to know about the BBL and WBBL overseas players draft

In the BBL draft last year Rashid Khan became the first player retained after Melbourne Stars selected him with pick No.1. Adelaide Strikers were able to use their retention option and did not get another pick in the first round, and Stars got to pick again immediately.A similar situation looms in the WBBL draft with Sydney Thunder looking likely to select Kapp with pick No.1 on Sunday which would force Scorchers to make a decision on whether to use their retention pick on Kapp or hold it for Devine who is also eligible to return to the club, if she is selected at pick No. 2 by Melbourne Renegades.Captain of defending champions Strikers, Tahlia McGrath, and Sydney Sixers allrounder Ashleigh Gardner, who have both been involved in the draft planning for their respective clubs, believed Scorchers’ decision would dictate the whole draft.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”I think the one that everyone’s looking at is the Scorchers and if they go Kapp or Devine, that’s going to shape the rest of the draft,” McGrath told ESPNcricinfo. “Especially for the Thunder, who they end up with because I’d imagine whoever doesn’t get retained would probably go pick one or two. So it’s going to be really interesting to sit and watch that.”I’d absolutely love both Kapp and Devine on our lists. You would jump at them. But with [Strikers having] pick eight they’re well and truly going to be gone. We’ll just wait and see what happens before us. And that determines how we play our cards.”Kapp has previously played at Sixers prior to moving to Perth and Gardner agreed that she would likely be the No.1 choice.”Kapp in my eyes would be the No.1 pick and I think probably everyone around the league would say that as well,” Gardner told ESPNcricinfo. “Thunder being No. 1, I’m assuming will go for her, but obviously, I don’t know. So it’d be very, very interesting, I guess as to who they retain.”On the surface, retaining Kapp looks like the logical choice for Scorchers given the recent form of both players but their decision is complicated by the fact that Devine’s value to them goes well beyond her recent T20 performances.The draft order for the WBBL•Cricket AustraliaDevine is a two-time player of the tournament, once with Strikers and once with Scorchers, and led Scorchers to their only title two seasons ago where Kapp was player of the final in the win over Strikers at Perth Stadium.Devine has strong ties to Perth and Western Australia having also represented the state in the WNCL, Australia’s domestic 50-over competition, and is a valued leader within their programs having captained Scorchers for the last three seasons.Harmanpreet and Dottin also big retention targetsWhichever way they go will have a huge bearing on what happens thereafter in the draft with Renegades holding pick No. 2 and the option of retaining India captain Harmanpreet Kaur.It seems highly unlikely that any of those three players will be available for last year’s finalists Sixers and Strikers at pick No. 7 and No. 8 but both those clubs face their own challenges with which platinum player to select. Strikers have the option of retaining one of three platinums in Laura Wolvaardt, Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor who returns to the WBBL after missing the last two years.”We’re lucky that all three players have been awesome for us,” McGrath said. “If you look at who we had last year, Laura has probably been our most consistent player over the last three years. And Dottin set the finals alight in both games, so we’re pretty spoilt for choice. No matter who we pick they will fit into our squad.”Sixers have no retention option available after Sophie Ecclestone withdrew from the tournament due to a shoulder injury.The defending champions could also have a big call to make•Cricket Australia via Getty Images”She’s obviously a huge loss and someone that we would have retained,” Gardner said. “She’s a huge gap to try and fill. It depends on whether you’re looking at it from a bowling perspective and saying do we need the best bowler that we can get or an allrounder?”I’ve been in on the meetings, and they’ve been pretty stressful, and quite overwhelming. Seeing all these names and seeing the likely list of where people will go or where we think they’ll go from a platinum point of view. It’s been really interesting.”WBBL allows direct nomination to clubsSixers may still get New Zealand allrounder Suzie Bates back via an mechanism that is unique to the WBBL. Bates is one of six players – alongside Tammy Beaumont, Sophia Dunkley, Amy Jones, Mignon du Preez and Lizelle Lee – who have all opted out of the draft but will be allowed to be signed directly to a WBBL club afterwards at a reduced maximum contract of AU$61,750.As it is the inaugural year of the WBBL draft, Cricket Australia believed that because in women’s T20 leagues they are relatively new compared to the men’s leagues, and that the salary bands are not as high, they did not want to force players into a draft if they were uncomfortable about the uncertainty of where they would end up. CA decided to give overseas WBBL players the option of applying for this direct route.Bates took up that option and may be available to sign for Sixers after the draft. Although with only six players opting for this route, the league may well review the rule next season.Renegades also announced on Wednesday that former Australia batter Jess Duffin is returning to the WBBL after missing the last season to focus on finishing her Australian Rules Football in the AFLW competition. Duffin has just had her second child but has returned to training only three months after giving birth.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s livid outgoing boss at Al-Nassr, Majed Jaman Al-Sorour, has vowed to sue the club after his "inappropriate" dismissal.

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Al-Nassr have sacked their CEOVows to take legal action against clubRonaldo is also yet to commit to an extensionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Majed Al-Sorour has announced plans to pursue legal action against the Saudi Pro League club after being sacked from his role as CEO at the start of the week. The controversy comes as Al-Nassr also grapple with the ongoing speculation surrounding Ronaldo's future.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Al-Sorour’s rise in Saudi sports leadership includes key positions at major institutions. He also served as the CEO of Saudi Golf and played a significant role in the country’s efforts to promote the sport globally. Additionally, he was appointed to Newcastle United’s board of directors in May 2022, following the club’s acquisition by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). His time on the board was short-lived, ending in December 2022. In January 2025, Al-Sorour took over as chief executive of Al-Nassr, becoming responsible for overseeing one of the Saudi Pro League’s most high-profile clubs.

WHAT AL-SOROUR SAID

Al-Sorour's removal stems from allegations that he publicly shared inaccurate information regarding the club on social media, which Al-Nassr’s board said was intended to mislead the public.

“Today my services were terminated in a manner that I consider unprofessional, inappropriate and unacceptable,” he said in a statement. “Therefore, a litigation process will begin between me and the management that runs our club.”

Al-Nassr also released a statement, which read: "With reference to what was observed in the tweet attributed to Mr. Majed Mohammed Al-Sorour (via the X platform on June 12, 2025), it contained incorrect information and was an attempt to influence public opinion without relying on documented facts. Accordingly, the Board of Directors of Al-Nassr Club Company would like to clarify the following:

“Reports were received from external and internal parties regarding some of the practices carried out by the CEO. Pursuant to this, the Board of Directors unanimously issued a decision to freeze the powers of CEO Majid bin Mohammed Al-Sarour on May 8, 2025, and to investigate the veracity of the reports.

“The CEO was officially notified, fully aware of the details, and signed a declaration and pledge regarding the suspension of his powers until the completion of these investigations. He also signed a declaration and pledge of confidentiality not to disclose any information related to the company. The CEO (during the investigation period) violated his contractual obligations by posting a tweet from his personal account, damaging the company's reputation on social media platforms. After the Board took all necessary legal measures and granted the CEO the right to defend himself and have his statements heard, the Board of Directors unanimously decided to terminate the contract of the CEO of Al-Nassr Club Company.

“The Board affirms that the CEO has not presented any comprehensive strategic or operational plan since assuming his position in January 2025 that reflects the requirements or aspirations of the current phase. He has also failed to demonstrate sufficient engagement with a number of priority issues, despite his full administrative empowerment and the approval of all his proposals without exception. Al-Nassr Club Company reiterates its commitment to operating in accordance with relevant regulations and the highest standards of governance.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

Amid this executive fallout, Al-Nassr’s biggest concern remains the uncertain future of Ronaldo. As per , a source close to the PIF told that efforts to retain the Portuguese were active but difficult.

"There are difficult negotiations underway to convince Ronaldo to stay and (continue) to play," the source said. "The main option was a transfer to Al Hilal, with the opportunity to play in the Club World Cup."

Despite the rumours, Ronaldo is currently enjoying time off after a demanding campaign. He will return for pre-season training in July as Al-Nassr prepare for the 2025–26 campaign, if he agrees to sign an extension.

جدد أتلتيك بلباو عقد الجناح الإسباني نيكو ويليامز لمدة عشر سنوات حتى عام 2035، بعدما كان مرتبطاً بالانضمام إلى أحد برشلونة أو بايرن ميونيخ، وشكل التجديد مفاجأة لجماهير الفريقين خاصة جماهير البلوجرانا.

أقرأ أيضاً.. نيكو ويليامز يوضح سبب رفضه الانتقال إلى برشلونة وبايرن ميونيخ

وكشف صحفي سكاي سبورت “فابريزيو رومانو”، تطورات جديدة بشأن خطة برشلونة لتعويض اخفاقه في التعاقد مع نيكو ويليامز.

وعبر صفحته الرسمية، أكد رومانو أن برشلونة يخطط لمحاولة جديدة لضم الجناح الكولومبي لويس دياز لاعب ليفربول الإنجليزي، في الأيام أو الأسابيع المقبلة بعد فشل ضم نيكو ويليامز.

وقد أغلق ليفربول أبوابه أمام محاولات كل من برشلونة وبايرن ميونيخ للتعاقد مع اللاعب في الأسابيع الأخيرة وهو أمر ليس سهلاً.

وبجانب لويس دياز لا يزال أيضاً ماركوس راشفورد لاعب مانشستر يونايتد يرغب في الانتقال لبرشلونة بعد أن قضى آخر فتراته مع أستون فيلا الموسم الماضي.

جدير بالذكر أن هناك تقارير صحفية انتشرت خلال الساعات الماضية أن النصر السعودي يضع لويس دياز على قائمة أهدافه الموسم المقبل.